Where is the Marcy tower located?

It stands on Route de Montezain, on the heights of the village of Marcy, near the cemetery.

Can the original mechanism still be seen?

Yes, it was restored to its original state between 1981 and 1984 and is among the few such mechanisms still surviving in France.

Is the tower a protected monument?

It has been listed as a historic monument under a 1982 decree.

Marcy semaphore tower

Marcy

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Prices: from €2.00
Visit duration: 60 min
Where: Marcy

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Tour du télégraphe Chappe de Marcy stands in Marcy (Rhône), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: fourth quarter of the 18th century). Adult admission costs 2 EUR. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Standing above the village of Marcy, this square stone tower once served as a relay station for the Chappe optical telegraph line linking Paris to Lyon and later Toulon. Brought into service in 1799, it operated until 1852, when the electric telegraph and the railway made the system obsolete. Restored to its original state in the early 1980s, it still holds its mechanism of mast, arm and wings, and is one of only five such towers still standing in France.

Written from Tour du télégraphe Chappe de Marcy

What to know

The tower stands on Route de Montezain in Marcy, close to the village cemetery.
The building measures 4 metres per side and 7 metres in height, with a mast reaching 7.8 metres.
The original mechanism, restored between 1981 and 1984, can be seen on site.
The tower has been listed as a historic monument since 1982.
No opening hours or admission fees are given here, so it is worth checking locally before visiting.

Practical information

Opening hours

visites individuelles: chaque premier dimanche du mois, du dimanche 3 mai au dimanche 27 septembre 2026 inclus, 15h00-18h00
ouverture exceptionnelle pour les Journées Européennes du Patrimoine: samedi 19 et dimanche 20 septembre, 15h00-18h00
visites groupes toute l'année sur réservation

Prices

Adult: €2.00
Child: Free

Free for free for under-18s and jobseekers

Visit duration: 60 min
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

Where this château is

Marcy · Rhône · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Map of the area around Tour du télégraphe Chappe de Marcy

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

69480 Marcy

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00117994
Period of construction: fourth quarter of the 18th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

What was the Chappe telegraph tower in Marcy used for?: It served as a relay station on the optical telegraph line linking Paris to Lyon, and later Toulon, between 1799 and 1852.
Where is the Marcy tower located?: It stands on Route de Montezain, on the heights of the village of Marcy, near the cemetery.
Can the original mechanism still be seen?: Yes, it was restored to its original state between 1981 and 1984 and is among the few such mechanisms still surviving in France.
Is the tower a protected monument?: It has been listed as a historic monument under a 1982 decree.